Washington Business Fall 2011 | Page 57

washington business continued uncertainty Other questions attempted to find out what factors are having the greatest impact on Washington businesses, and how much influence respondents believe businesses can have on those factors. Consumer demand, environmental regulation, health care costs and labor costs ranked among top concerns. Yet for many of those concerns, respondents indicated they don’t believe the business community can have much influence. In a way, it’s like cheering for the Seahawks — the subject of Elway’s first question for the crowd. How many games will the Seahawks win this year? Elway asked. Eleven percent already are wrong. That’s how many predicted the answer was just “one.” Another 7 percent will likely be just as wrong. That’s how many said “10.” (Most of the audience guessed the team would finish with somewhere between three and five wins.) Not as bad it could be. But pretty far from great. Just like the economy. fall 2011 55